Secretarial

I am absolutely loving the foxy-themed fashion prints currently gracing designer boutiques and high streets alike. There’s something ephemeral and mischievous about the image of a fox, a knowing sauciness I find terribly appealing.

This cheeky little number is from the TU range of clothing at Sainsbury’s – yes, you read that correctly! – and is perfect for wearing under a tweedy jacket for a nod to the Country Gentry look that’s everywhere right now. Here’s a close-up of the little blighter…

The colour isn’t quite floating my boat, and Peter Pan collars do little for us booby gals, but my heart is quite taken with the print!

Sainsbury’s have come on leaps and bounds this season, fashion-wise. Look at this darling little jacket that hit the shops a couple of weeks ago (congrats if you can find one – I knew I should have grabbed it when I saw it!)

I very rarely see traditional wedding dresses – even dresses that breezily claim they are ‘alternative’ wedding dresses – that I like. It often seems that designers cannot quite wrench themselves away from the poofy meringue or dull as dishwater ‘Virginal Simplicity’ yawn-fests that inhabit page after glossy, anodyne page in most mainstream Bridal magazines.

With this in mind, I set about seeking out gorgeous dresses that could easily be worn by a bride, but could also (hopefully) be worn again afterwards. Some are more traditional or vintage looking, others may be a little bit ‘out there’, but while they may not appeal to all, I have found something to love in every single one, which gives me hope if nothing else, while searching for my own wedding dress!

There’s something for every budget, from under £50 to several thousand bucks, which may only be dreams for most of us, but I hope may also serve as inspiration and give you other ideas about where to look for THE dress…

This is the ‘Heather’ maxi dress, by All Saints. It’s £395, and while out of my budget for a normal everyday dress, I think is still an okay price for The Best Day Of Your Life in which you will be worshipped as a Princess et-cetera et-cetera.

I really like the flattering cut and drape of this All Saints dress – very 1930’s starlet, or BCLWCCP (Before Courtney Love Went Completely Coco Pops). Bless her. Okay, maybe she’s been that way since immemorial, but you catch my drift.

You could wear the Heather dress again bedecked with costume jewellery (I’m thinking multiple layers of charm-loaded chains or perhaps one of the Butler & Wilson diamanté skull necklaces) and layered with a biker jacket for a funky evening look. It’s also available in black, if darker hues are your thing (and they are usually mine, though I’m trying to steer away from an all-black wedding dress).

Regardless of how you style it – wafty Goddess or rock chick chic – this is a classy looking and actually quite classic dress that would see you through many years.